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Posted: 10/1/2006 4:43:57 PM EDT
I purchased an SP1 type upper at a fun show today. It has obvious wear marks and the usual signs of aging but for 179 with charging handle I thought it would be a decent plinker as the bore looks to be in great shape. The upper receiver has a "C" just ahead of the ejection port and the barrel is marked C MP C. I assume this means it is a COLT and has been MP tested. Does one of the "C"s on the barrel indicate chrome lining?   These are picks of it on a Stag lower that I picked up cheap, for a total price of about $470 including a new BCG. I know that is by no means the cheapest AR ever built, but I think I did pretty well. The guy I bought this from had a whole bunch of them, and considering the price I wonder where he got them and for how little. |
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Re the barrel, C MP C indicates a chrome lined chamber only. The bore itself is not chromed. These were the intermediate types produced in between the C MP (totally unlined) and C MP B or C MP CHRONE BORE marked pieces which were totally lined. Got one on my Air Force M16 clone. Shoots good.  The upper reciever without a C, and a forge mark, in the depression under the rear sight indicates that this is a fairly early M16A1 piece, when Colt was still the only manufacturer of the M16. Once contracts were given to GM and H&R, the uppers started having the the C and forge code added to the upper, along w/the stamped little proof mark you spotted ahead of the ejection port. BTW, great price on the deal 
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That is an early M16A1 upper. Dates from 1969 or 1970 and has a chrome chamber only. The previous chrome chamber only barrel marking was simply a MP between the legs of the FSB and a C about an inch from the muzzle and was used by Colt from late 67 through 68, and by H&R & Hydramatic through out thier production. The next barrel after yours was the full chrome bore barrel marked C MP B that was frist used in 1971. No forge codes were used on the M16A1 until 1971, at about the same time as the chrome bore was introduced. Those no forge code M16A1 uppers are something collectors look for. If you guys can find more that would be great. Most have been rebuilt with new CMP CHROME BORE marked barrels, with a thick paint job on the upper, and vise jaw marks on the barrel under the guards. |
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